We reached the end of the lake, where Bob tested the rapids but found they were too shallow to go on. When we turned around to go back, from behind the reeds appeared Christine. Her arrival made up for losing Happy, who had to leave us shortly after.

Seven of us decided to try out a shortcut via narrow water channel running through a large reed bed. Roger led the group. First there was a tricky tree trunk where one person got stuck. Then there was a brush dam that made it impossible to continue. Hugh was willing to push his way over it but decided against it. Roger refused to give up and proceeded to try out another, smaller channel to the left. Hugh followed but immediately hollered: “But Roger, there is no room to paddle!” The rest of us waited. It was a no-go. Roger emerged in camouflage, his boat covered in brush and dirt. We had to go back the way we came. It was a challenge to turn around in a narrow channel, but we managed.

Another adventure awaited at a small sandy beach that was chosen for a resting spot: Robert felt compelled to test the water temperature. As he steered the front of his boat ashore, he began to exit his kayak. The kayak tilted unexpectedly dumping him in the water. It wouldn’t be unusual if it weren’t for the fact he didn’t scramble out as expected. Instead, still in his kayak, he kept bobbing up and down repeatedly going under again and again. It looked as if an invisible force had a hold of his boat rocking it back and forth between a 90 and a 45 degree angle. Finally, he gave up righting himself up and completed a wet exit. When his feet reached the bottom, the water was up to his chest. That was one steep drop-off. Fortunately he was fine, although soaking wet. Lesson learned: Check the depth of the water before you attempt an exit.

Toward the end of the trip we finally saw some wildlife. Wild it was: a small strip of an island with a beach party in full swing. A swarm of motorboats was parked by the shore; Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” was booming; and the partiers played volleyball in the water.

As usual, we decided to have our own fun. Eight of us drove to Buffalo Head Inn for dinner, where we indulged in beer, gravy-doused dishes, and desserts.